Last Updated: July 6, 2026
Orange Beach sits at the eastern end of Alabama’s Gulf Coast, sharing the same brilliant white quartz sand that runs west from Pensacola Beach and Destin — all of it originating from the ancient Appalachian Mountains, ground fine over millions of years and carried to the Gulf by river systems. We arrived just at the beginning of spring break, which would normally mean dense crowds of college students on the beach. The coronavirus outbreak had already begun to suppress travel, however, and the beaches and restaurants were noticeably quieter than they would otherwise have been at that time of year. A strange and unsettling historical context for what was still a beautiful visit.
Orange Beach, Alabama
We stayed at Buena Vista Coastal RV Resort — a well-maintained resort-style park with full hookups, good amenities, and a convenient location for exploring both the beaches and the Fort Morgan peninsula. The indoor pool and spa were under renovation during our stay, which was unfortunate, but the park otherwise delivered on its resort billing. The location near the Intracoastal Waterway meant excellent wildlife watching right from the campground.
Osprey were a daily presence at Orange Beach — we saw them perching on marina pilings and dock beams throughout the day, regularly returning with fish and, impressively, the occasional softshell turtle. Watching an Osprey manage a struggling softshell turtle that has second thoughts about being lunch is a memorable wildlife encounter. These birds are extraordinary hunters, and the waterways around Orange Beach and the Intracoastal give them almost unlimited opportunities.
We had an excellent lunch at Playa at Sportsman Marina — a casual waterfront restaurant with views over the marina and good Gulf Coast seafood. The setting is relaxed and local in character, and the food was well above average for a marina-adjacent restaurant. We’d recommend it as a reliable lunch spot when you’re in the area.
The restaurant had a rotating display of local artwork on its walls — beach and coastal scenes from regional artists that added a genuine sense of place to the dining room. It’s a nice touch that distinguishes this kind of local spot from the chain restaurants that dominate so many beach resort areas.
Visitor Information — Buena Vista Coastal RV Resort: Located at 27842 Canal Road, Orange Beach, Alabama 36561. Full-hookup sites with resort amenities. Well-positioned for exploring both the Gulf Shores beaches and the Fort Morgan peninsula. Phone: (251) 981-8008. Website: buenavistarvresort.com. Reservations recommended during spring and summer.
Visitor Information — Playa at Sportsman Marina: Located at 27267 Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach, Alabama 36561. Casual waterfront dining with marina views. Good Gulf Coast seafood. Phone: (251) 981-3300.
Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores Alabama
Fort Morgan is one of the most historically significant sites on the Gulf Coast, and it rewards a full morning of exploration. Following the War of 1812, which exposed the vulnerability of Mobile Bay to naval attack, Congress authorized construction of a permanent fortification at Mobile Point. Construction began in 1819 and took fifteen years — the fort was built almost entirely with enslaved labor, and over 30 million bricks were used in its construction. It is a massive five-pointed star fort of the same Third System architecture as Fort Pickens at Pensacola, designed to control the entrance to Mobile Bay from the sea.
The fort’s most famous moment came on August 5, 1864. In the largest naval battle of the Civil War in the Gulf of Mexico, Union Admiral David Farragut led a fleet of 18 ships into Mobile Bay through a minefield under fire from Fort Morgan’s guns. When the lead monitor Tecumseh struck a torpedo (what naval mines were then called) and sank within minutes, Farragut’s fleet hesitated. It was then that Farragut, lashed to the rigging of his flagship Hartford so he wouldn’t fall if hit, reportedly shouted: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” The Union fleet surged through, neutralized the Confederate ironclad Tennessee, and sealed the fate of Mobile Bay. Fort Morgan fell to Union siege forces on August 23, 1864, after holding out for nearly three weeks.
The fort’s brick walls show extraordinary efflorescence — the white mineral deposits that leach through old masonry over time as water carries salts and minerals to the surface. In the humid Gulf Coast environment, with sea spray and heavy summer rains, the process is accelerated, and the resulting patterns on the brick are both beautiful and a little otherworldly. The walls are thick and the casemates are cool even in summer heat, which makes the interior passages a genuinely pleasant place to explore.
The architectural repetition of the arched casemates creates a remarkable visual rhythm — each archway framing the next, light fading as you move deeper into the fort. It’s exceptionally photogenic and also structurally fascinating: the arches distribute the enormous weight of the walls and earthen ramparts above while keeping the interior spaces usable. Jake was welcome throughout the entire state park property, which made for an especially enjoyable visit for all four members of the party.
Visitor Information — Fort Morgan State Historic Site: Located at 110 Highway 180 West, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542, at the western tip of the Fort Morgan Peninsula. Open daily. Entry fee applies (children under 6 free). The site includes the fort itself, a small museum, and access to the Gulf beach at Mobile Point. Dogs are welcome on the grounds and in the fort on leash. The Fort Morgan-Dauphin Island ferry runs seasonally from the adjacent dock. Phone: (251) 540-7125. Website: ahc.alabama.gov. Plan for at least two hours; the fort has extensive interior passages and the beach views from the outer walls are exceptional.
Red or White Wine Bar, Orange Beach
Red or White Wine Bar was one of those genuinely pleasant surprises that make travel worthwhile. We found it almost by accident and stayed considerably longer than planned. The wine selection is thoughtful and well-priced — not the tourist-trap markup you might expect in a beach resort area. We ordered a charcuterie board and a bottle of Rombauer Zinfandel, which is a longtime favorite and rarely found on wine lists this far off the California trail. The bar is also dog-friendly, so Jake was welcome to join us and spent the visit alternating between napping under the bar stool and accepting attention from other patrons.
The walls of Red or White are hung with local artwork — rotating pieces from regional artists that change periodically and are available for purchase. It adds considerably to the ambience and gives the space a genuinely curated feel rather than the generic beach-bar aesthetic. This is the kind of local wine bar that any coastal town would be lucky to have, and Orange Beach is lucky to have this one.
Visitor Information — Red or White Wine Bar: Located in the Wharf area of Orange Beach, Alabama. Excellent wine selection at fair prices with rotating local artwork and a good charcuterie program. Dog-friendly. Call ahead to confirm current hours as they vary by season. The Wharf entertainment district has ample parking and several dining options nearby.
Flora-Bama
The Flora-Bama Lounge is one of those institutions that exists in a category by itself. In 1962, the state of Florida transferred approximately two miles of Gulf beachfront to Alabama in exchange for construction of the Perdido Pass bridge. Two years later, in 1964, a local family built a bar right at the new state line — a spot that would put customers literally on the border between two states. As tourism and spring break traffic grew over the following decades, so did the bar, expanding into a sprawling complex of multiple stages, outdoor bars, and dining areas that today covers several acres of beachfront on Perdido Key.
Live music runs throughout the day and into the evening across multiple stages — the quality ranges from very good to excellent, and the atmosphere during a busy afternoon is genuinely electric. The Flora-Bama is best known for its famous Bushwhacker, a rum-based frozen cocktail that the venue credits with the alcoholic equivalent of three beers. We had to try it. We listened to Trevor Finlay’s live set while investigating this claim, and can confirm that the Bushwhacker does not underdeliver on its promises.
Throughout Flora-Bama, bras hang from the ceiling in numbers that defy counting — a tradition with murky origins that has apparently been ongoing for decades. Donations were being accepted to add to the collection. The American flag hangs prominently at the back, which somehow fits perfectly with the everything-goes energy of the place. Flora-Bama is equal parts beach bar, music venue, local institution, and controlled chaos. It is unmistakably itself.
This was our last Gulf Coast stop for a while — the route was turning inland after Orange Beach. The white sand beaches of the Florida panhandle and Alabama’s Gulf Shores are genuinely among the best in the country, and it is hard to leave them without a certain reluctance. We’ll be back.
Visitor Information — Flora-Bama Lounge: Located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola, Florida 32507 (on the Florida-Alabama state line). Open daily from late morning through late evening. Live music on multiple stages throughout the day and night. Famous for the Bushwhacker frozen cocktail. Beach access adjacent. Note: this is a loud, high-energy venue best visited in the afternoon before the full evening crowd arrives. Website: florabama.com.
Practical Tips for Orange Beach and Gulf Shores
Allow a full day for Fort Morgan. The drive out to the tip of the Fort Morgan Peninsula takes about 35 minutes from Orange Beach, and the fort itself merits two hours minimum. The outer battery has sweeping views of Mobile Bay and the Gulf entrance — the same vantage point Farragut’s fleet faced in 1864. Pack water, wear comfortable shoes for the uneven brick surfaces, and bring a flashlight for the darker interior passages. The state park beach at Mobile Point is also excellent for shelling and birding.
The Flora-Bama is best in the afternoon. Spring break crowds pack the venue after dark; arriving between 2 and 5 p.m. gives you the live music experience without the full evening crush. The outdoor stages and beach bars are significantly more accessible at that hour, and you can actually hear the musicians without difficulty. The Bushwhacker is genuinely strong — pace yourself if you’re driving back.
Orange Beach’s Osprey population is remarkable. The Intracoastal Waterway, Wolf Bay, and the marinas throughout Orange Beach provide ideal hunting habitat, and Osprey are present year-round. The marina docks and wooden pilings are their favorite perches — walk any marina boardwalk at midday and you are very likely to find one with a fish. Bring a telephoto lens if you have one.
Dogs are more welcome here than on most of the panhandle. Fort Morgan State Historic Site is fully dog-friendly, Red or White Wine Bar is dog-friendly, and Buena Vista Coastal RV Resort accommodates pets well. Orange Beach’s public beaches do have leash rules and seasonal restrictions — check current signage before unleashing on the sand.
The Fort Morgan ferry is worth knowing about. A seasonal passenger and vehicle ferry runs between Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island, Alabama’s barrier island to the west. If you’re continuing north or want to explore Dauphin Island (an excellent birding destination during migration), the ferry saves a significant detour through Mobile. Check current schedules at the Fort Morgan ferry dock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of Fort Morgan, Alabama? Fort Morgan was built between 1819 and 1834 at Mobile Point to protect Mobile Bay following the War of 1812. Constructed by enslaved labor using over 30 million bricks, it is one of the finest surviving examples of Third System military fortification in the United States. The fort is most famous for the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, when Union Admiral David Farragut led his fleet through a Confederate minefield under fire from the fort’s guns, reportedly shouting “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” The fort fell to Union forces on August 23, 1864, and was used by the US military through World War II before being deeded to Alabama in 1947. It is now a state historic site open for public tours.
What is the Flora-Bama? Flora-Bama is a legendary beach bar and music venue located directly on the Florida-Alabama state line on Perdido Key. Opened in 1964 near the Perdido Pass bridge, it has grown from a single beach bar into a sprawling complex of stages, bars, and outdoor areas covering several acres of Gulf beachfront. It is famous for live music seven days a week, the Bushwhacker frozen cocktail, and a decades-old tradition of bras hanging from the ceiling. Flora-Bama is widely considered one of the great American dive bars and beach institutions.
What are the best beaches near Orange Beach, Alabama? Orange Beach and Gulf Shores share some of the finest white-sand beaches on the Gulf Coast — the quartz sand is the same geological material that runs from Pensacola Beach west through Destin and Orange Beach, originating in the Appalachian Mountains. Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores has excellent public beach access with natural dune systems. The beach at Fort Morgan State Historic Site (Mobile Point) is notably uncrowded and excellent for shelling and shorebird observation. The main public beaches in Gulf Shores fill quickly on weekends; arriving early is advisable.
Is Fort Morgan dog-friendly? Yes — Fort Morgan State Historic Site is one of the more dog-friendly historic sites we’ve visited anywhere. Dogs on leash are welcome inside the fort, in the casemates, and throughout the state park grounds. This is explicitly permitted and actively accommodated by the site staff. Jake explored every corridor and battery with us and was welcomed throughout.
What RV parks are near Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama? Buena Vista Coastal RV Resort in Orange Beach offers full-hookup sites with resort amenities and a convenient location for beach access and day trips to Fort Morgan. Gulf State Park Campground in Gulf Shores is a popular option directly on the Gulf with excellent beach access but books up quickly during spring and summer. The area has several additional private RV parks; reservations are essential from March through Labor Day.
